A Brooklyn nonprofit on Wednesday launched a multimedia website and information platform to support the mental health and emotional well-being of young men of color.
The B.R.O. Experience Foundation unveiled Be Well Bro, a website that offers comprehensive mental health resources including articles, podcasts, videos, crisis support, therapy guidance and interactive events.
The platform targets young men of color but also serves educators, health professionals and families, according to a press release.
The B.R.O. Experience Foundation is a Black-led, Brooklyn-based nonprofit that supports economically marginalized and justice-impacted youth. Be Well Bro reflects both the professional expertise and lived experiences of its team, as well as the voices of New York City youth involved in the organization’s work.
“We are in a crisis—and young men of color are being left behind," said Barry Cooper, the founder and executive director of the foundation. "Be Well Bro is our response to the silence, the stigma, and the lack of access."
Recent data underscores the urgency of such an initiative. Suicide rates among Black males aged 10 to 19 have increased by 60% over the past two decades, and Black boys are 2.5 times more likely to die by suicide than their female peers. Experts cite not only a lack of accessible resources but also the compounding effects of community violence, aggressive policing and a toxic digital environment.
"This platform was built to meet them where they are, speak their language and let them know they’re not alone," Cooper said. "Their lives, their healing and their futures can’t wait."
